Catering for vegans

[PieandPotatoes]

We have friends who come and stay regularly. One is a vegan. They never bring any food with them. It takes me ages to do the food shopping (checking labels for ingredients). We spend loads on oatmilk, vegan cheese/yoghurt etc and we end up cooking two dishes at mealtimes as my husband refuses to eat anything without meat. I think that they should at least bring some vegan food with them. What do you think?

No, my point was broader. I’m saying even as I as an omnivore understand that veganism isn’t just a choice, it’s a way of life and eating meat (for example) can become impossible and unthinkable for many vegans and vegetarians.

I still think OP needs to tell these people they can’t stay with her though!

But it sounds like the OP has said "lovely - how about this weekend" and then appeared to enjoy having them so I don't see how they are supposed to telepathically understand that they aren't welcome

The OP has been asked a few times on this thread about whether she stays with them too and hasn't answered - so I don't know whether she stays with them or not

And we're back to the frankly bizarre assumption that 'vegan food' is some special weirdy factory UPF shite while normal food for 'carnivores' (are we feeding cats here or people, ie omnivores?) is lovely fresh locally grown healthy food.

Most food is vegan, vegetables,fruit, pulses. Then most of the rest is vegetarian, cheese and eggs. Then obviously meat and fish, so you just avoid these when people don't eat them and eat the other foods.

@Nolegusta "Lots of vegan food is processed"

Lots of food is processed. Don't like processed food? Don't eat processed food. Simple.

Whilst I agree that most vegan food is lovely, it’s apparent that the food industry is pushing plant based foods and meat alternatives at consumers at an incredible pace.

And the result is that vegetarian foods are being replaced with meat alternatives. I love vegetarian food but can’t process soya and other meat free proteins very well so I’m often dismayed when I see vegetarian food replaced with food grown in a lab.

But sometimes you don’t have a choice. Lots of companies are replacing vegetables with soya or other plant based meat alternatives.

Absolutely this. I am not vegan or vegetarian but it is ridiculous. Non vegan people can eat vegan food no problem and are not going to die if they don't eat meat or fish for a day!

Just thinking about the meals we have eaten this week. Apart from the night we had steak, they were all either vegan already, like the vegetable curry, or could easily have been veganised- the roast vegetables with cous cous that we chose to have with grilled lamb, but would have been just as nice without. Or with some tofu. Or some crispy chick peas.

@Dimpliy "
But sometimes you don’t have a choice. Lots of companies are replacing vegetables with soya or other plant based meat alternatives"

Are you talking mass catering or home cooking? I thought we were talking about friends to dinner....

We don’t know that they haven’t invited them. Maybe they have make an open ended invite and are waiting for the op to initiate actually going/ planning in a weekend.

but yes, ideally they should be taking turns

When the friends ask what weekend works then the op can also respond lets come to us this time. If there’s travel involved it might actually be that that are making and effort that the op can’t be bothered with

Yes more about mass catering, in response to below.

And we're back to the frankly bizarre assumption that 'vegan food' is some special weirdy factory UPF shite while normal food for 'carnivores' (are we feeding cats here or people, ie omnivores?) is lovely fresh locally grown healthy food.

I am also curious about this...please can you elaborate?

I think there is a real issue in restaurants that vegans want to eat processed meat substitutes which they often

otherwise vegan food is the herbivore side of the normal omnivore diet

Do these friends ever invite you to stay with them?

Whether we're talking about cooking for friends, or mass catering (I had to edit my post because I got mixed up with the other thread about the ethical workplace food) no-one is replacing vegetables with 'soya or other plant based meat alternatives'.

If you want to eat fresh unprocessed food, processed 'meat alternatives' just aren't on your radar. Your alternative to chicken curry is chick pea curry, bean chilli instead of chilli con carne, a home made nut roast instead of roast meat etc. And it's likely that either way, the rest of the meal is the same for everyone - the salad/vegetables, bread, grains, sauces etc.

If you automatically jump processed factory 'meat alternatives' when thinking about what you'd serve to vegans, this is likely to be instead of processed meat, eg sausages or breaded chicken for example.

@Dimpliy " I love vegetarian food "

I don't. I love nice food. Shit food is shit whether it's vegan, vegetarian or meat based.

The myth I am trying to disprove is that vegan food is expensive, difficult and UHP. I do suspect sometimes that there is something small p political going on but I'm not sure what. Certainly one of the sticks the populist right use to beat the left with is the "tofu eating wokerati" trope. It's been the case for a long time-when I was young there was a similar trope about vegetarians who shopped in health food shops never looking very healthy!

@SurelySmartie "Do these friends ever invite you to stay with them?"

I have to say that is one of the most Mumsnet posts I have ever read. All those people hunched over their tally charts.....🤣🤣

That’s great for you that you don’t love vegetarian foods, I grew up on it and it was a very healthy diet.

I agree that there is often dismissal of veganism but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an increasing market of UPF vegan foods, as there is in the non-vegan market.

I have a mainly vegetarian diet (but I love meat too) and I’m noticing vegetarian options being gradually replaced with meal alternatives.

They come to stay and lecture you?
Personally I wouldn’t accommodate them any longer. If they must stay and they are lecturing you about your food choices, I would be telling them to feed themselves next time (if there is a next time) - how abominably rude!

This is the crucial bit. I say that as a lifelong veggie. No house guest should be lecturing their hosts.

@Dimpliy "That’s great for you that you don’t love vegetarian foods, I grew up on it and it was a very healthy diet."

You misunderstand me. I'm not going to say I love any sort of food. I love good food. Whether it's vegan, vegetarian or meat based is irrelevant. If it's good I like it!

Read what I actually wrote again, more slowly this time.

It's not 'just' a choice, it's a choice.

Spectacularly missing the point (again).

@Nolegusta "Spectacularly missing the point (again)"

Had you considered that you are not making your point very clearly? If people keep missing it so spectacularly....